Meet the Dean

Nicholas Harney, Dean, Faculty of Social Science

Nicholas Harney
Dean, Faculty of Social Science
Professor of Anthropology

Harney’s research interests include the social anthropology of urban life, migration studies, and critical perspectives on global processes with a focus on Canada and Italy. He is the author of Eh, Paesan!: Being Italian in Toronto (University of Toronto Press) and co-editor of Anthropological Forum.

Harney served as head of the department of sociology, anthropology and criminology at the University of Windsor from 2016 to 2021. He also held several academic appointments at The University of Western Australia (UWA), including chair of anthropology and sociology, and associate dean (international) for the Faculty of Arts.

Between appointments at UWA and Windsor, he served a term as secretary of the examining commission at Italy’s top-ranked Università degli Studi di Trento where he has held a continuous appointment as visiting professor with the Centre of Migration Studies & Social Cohesion since 2012.

Graduating magna cum laude in social anthropology from Harvard University, Harney earned his MA and PhD in social/cultural anthropology from the University of Toronto. He pursued postdoctoral studies as the Mariano A. Elia Chair in Italian Canadian Studies at York University.